Malaysia East Coast Islands: 7-Day Itinerary

Morning: Take an early flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu. If you land before 10am, spend an hour at Siti Khadijah Market in the town centre, where women traders run most of the stalls and the upper floors sell Kelantanese snacks such as nasi kerabu, blue rice with herbs and fish. Withdraw enough cash for the whole island stay here, as there are no ATMs on the Perhentians.

Afternoon: Take a taxi or Grab to Kuala Besut jetty, about an hour away. Pay the marine park fee, buy a speedboat ticket and tell the boatman which beach you are staying on; the crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes and boats stop running in the late afternoon, so aim to arrive at the jetty by 2pm. Expect to wade ashore at some beaches.

Evening: Settle in and watch the sun go down from your beach. Dinner is usually grilled fish at a beachfront café, eaten with your feet in the sand.

Morning: Book a half-day or full-day snorkelling trip from any of the beach operators the night before. Standard trips visit four or five spots around both islands, which usually include Turtle Point, where green turtles graze on sea grass, Shark Point, where blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows, and the fish-filled reefs off Pulau Rawa or the lighthouse at the northern tip of Kecil. Wear a rash vest: the sun on your back is fierce.

Afternoon: If you took a half-day trip, spend the afternoon on your beach, or book a trial dive with one of the island’s many dive schools. The Perhentians are one of the most affordable places in Malaysia to take an open water course, which takes three to four days.

Evening: Take a water taxi to Long Beach on Perhentian Kecil, where cafés set out cushions on the sand and the mood is lively. Agree the return fare before you go, and avoid crossing late at night when the sea is choppy.

Morning: Use the forest trails that link the beaches. On Perhentian Kecil, the path from Long Beach across the island to Coral Bay takes about 15 minutes, and a longer walk heads north towards the windmill and quieter coves. On Besar, trails connect several resort beaches. Go early, wear proper shoes and carry water, as paths can be rocky and humid.

Afternoon: Hire a kayak and paddle along the shore to a quieter cove, or simply snorkel straight off the beach in front of your chalet; reefs often start a few metres out. Teluk Pauh on Besar is a lovely snorkelling spot with calm water.

Evening: Walk to Coral Bay, on the west side of Kecil, for the island’s best sunset, then eat at one of the beach barbecues where you pick your fish from the ice. Turtles nest on some Perhentian beaches during the season; if your resort works with a conservation project, ask whether any night walks are running.

Morning: Make the most of your last full day on the Perhentians. Divers can book two fun dives at sites such as Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea), a pinnacle covered in soft corals, or the Sugar Wreck, a sunken cargo ship that is home to large schools of fish. Non-divers can join a second snorkelling trip to the spots they missed on day two.

Afternoon: Rest and pack. Ask your resort to confirm tomorrow’s boat to Kuala Besut, and arrange your road transfer to Merang jetty in advance, timed to meet your Redang resort’s boat. If your resort offers a direct boat to Redang in season, book it now, as departures are limited.

Evening: Enjoy a final evening on the beach. Settle any outstanding bills in cash, since card payments are not widely accepted on the islands.

Morning: Take an early boat back to Kuala Besut, about 30 to 45 minutes, then your pre-booked car south along the coast road to Merang jetty. Allow a few hours of road time and a margin for waiting, since resort boats to Redang leave at set times, often only once or twice a day.

Afternoon: The crossing from Merang takes about 40 minutes. As you approach, the water turns turquoise over the white sand of Pasir Panjang, Redang’s main beach. Check in, pick up snorkel gear and swim off the beach.

Evening: Most Redang packages include dinner at your resort. Afterwards, walk along Pasir Panjang; on clear nights the stars are very bright, as there is almost no light pollution. Check the snorkelling schedule for tomorrow, as package trips usually run at fixed times in the morning and afternoon.

Morning: Join the snorkelling trip to the marine park centre at Pulau Pinang, just off Redang, where the shallow reef is full of fish and you can often see blacktip reef sharks in the shallows. Some trips also stop at Pulau Lima or the reefs off Teluk Kalong. Keep off the coral and do not feed the fish.

Afternoon: Return to your resort for lunch, then try kayaking or paddleboarding if the sea is calm. Divers can book two dives with a resort dive centre; sites around Redang are known for healthy hard corals and good visibility in the middle of the season.

Evening: Walk over the headland to Teluk Dalam or along to the end of Pasir Panjang for sunset. If you are in luck, a resort may host a turtle talk, as green and hawksbill turtles nest on Redang in season.

Morning: Enjoy a last swim before breakfast, when the beach is at its calmest. Resort boats back to Merang usually leave in the morning or around midday, so check your departure time the night before and plan your flight accordingly.

Afternoon: From Merang, it is about 40 minutes by car to Kuala Terengganu. If you have time before your flight, walk Kuala Terengganu’s Chinatown along Jalan Kampung Cina and eat keropok lekor, the chewy fish sausage the state is known for, at a roadside stall. The Pasar Payang central market is good for batik and brassware.

Evening: Fly from Kuala Terengganu back to Kuala Lumpur, or continue south to Tioman or Cherating if you have more time. If you are taking the public ferry instead of a resort boat, note that services from Redang land at Shahbandar jetty in the city, about 1.5 hours from the island.